Chapter Eight

Trina

Moving back to Brently was supposed to be a new beginning in a familiar place. It was not supposed to be a repeat of my past life, which included falling in love with Baz. Again. It’s like I hadn’t learned a goddamn thing as an entire decade passed. But the thing was, Baz was still a biker, still an outlaw, and I couldn’t care less. He’d been a good father to Jack, a really great father actually, not to mention he’d taken on the role of protector for both of us. It wasn’t smart and I knew it but the last time I tried to do what I thought was the right thing, the smart thing, it took me away from my home. Away from Baz. And eventually, right into the arms of the fucking psycho currently making my new life uncomfortable as hell.

Jensen had been my attempt at the steady, stable man with a good, reliable job. But he had one fatal flaw prior to the breakup and that was his indifference to Jack. And then his inability to take ‘no’ for an answer had become a huge problem. Such a huge problem, it brought a madman to my doorstep. So, either I had shitty taste in men or I’d been using the wrong criteria by which to judge them.

Right now, I had to go with option B.

So this time, I decided to give my heart what she wanted, and that crazy bitch wanted Baz.

It was something I’d have to deal with later because I worked late last night and rose early this morning because we had errands to run. “Jack come on kiddo, we have to get out of here!” I knew he was still sleeping because the child was incapable of waking up before nine o’clock, so I closed the clasp on my earring as I walked down to his room, giving his door a loud knock. “Jack wake up or you’ll be wearing pants that are too short for the next year!”

“Mom let’s just do it online,” he groaned, from what sounded like under his pillow.

I couldn’t help but smile at that. “We have to try them on.” Baz had gotten up early to help Mick move some things around for Talon so Jack and I were hitting some of the sales at the mall for all the clothes he continues to outgrow. Even though he hated shopping for anything but food, I knew he wanted to make a good impression at his new school next month. “If you think I’m running back and forth to the post office when your jeans don’t fit, you better think again kid!” I heard a loud thud and then four distinctive steps before the door pulled open.

“Fine. I’ll be ready in ten minutes.” He flashed a sleepy smile then brushed past me into the bathroom.

While he showered, I slipped my shoes on and whipped up some egg and bacon sandwiches for us, honey wheat bread was my one concession to eating healthy this morning. I sipped my coffee and waited. And tried not to think about Baz. Or Jensen. Or the greasy asshole who kept darkening my doorstep.

“Breakfast sandwiches,” Jack said as he slid onto a chair and chugged his orange juice.

“Yep. I figured they could hold us until lunch.”

He nodded, chewing fast because he obviously had something to say. “Since we have to get jeans at the mall, Mom, can I get my t-shirts from this cool online store. Please?”

“Fine. Jeans, socks and underwear plus a couple of lightweight jackets today, t-shirts online. Please just be a good sport about it, okay?”

He smiled, looking so much like the little boy who used to climb in my lap and bestow hugs and kisses on me at will. I felt my heart squeeze. “I will. And thanks Mom, for bringing me here to meet my Dad. Love you,” he said as he stood and pressed a bacony kiss to my cheek.

“You’re welcome sweetheart. I’m glad he’s everything you wanted in a father. And I’m sorry I waited so long to bring you two together.” I figured I’d spend a few years making it up to him. “Get your sneakers on.”

The kid never did anything slowly. He ran to his room and shoved his feet into his favorite pair of shoes before running back. “Ready. Can we have subs for lunch?”

“Sure.” I pulled open the door and froze, standing in the doorway was a familiar head of perfectly coiffed russet brown hair and angry brown eyes that I once thought so appealing.

“Hello Trina. You are looking mighty fine this morning.” Jensen raked a hand down my shoulder and I suppressed a shudder.

I took a step forward and pushed Jack behind me. “Run Jack!” The moment I heard the back-door smack shut, I pushed at Jensen’s chest and stepped back to close the door.

“I don’t think so Trina baby.” He sneered and smacked his hand against the door, grabbing my hair and yanking me backwards until I cried out. “I’ve come a long way to get you, baby. How about a little kiss?”

As his mouth descended on mine, bile rose in my throat and I shook my head left and right, dodging his attempts to kiss me. He squeezed my jaw hard and when his mouth touched mine, I did the only thing I could think of, I bit down as hard as I could.

“You bitch!” He pulled harder on my hair until I bent backwards, trying not to puke with his angry glare filling my vision.

At least until his fist came flying right at my face, turning everything black.